The Silence of the Lambs (Full Screen Special Edition)

 

 

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It's rare for a film to win Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay Oscars, but The Silence of the Lambs did just that. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) is often regarded at the top villain in cinema history and he's probably the first character that springs to mind when you think about the movie. It's hard to believe that Hopkins was only on the screen for about 16 minutes.

The story begins with Agent Clarice Starling (Foster). We see her tackling an obstacle course at the FBI's Quantico training center. Her boss, Jack Crawford, (Glenn), calls her in and asks her to visit Lecter. He's in a secure cell and the warnings she receives appear excessive, but they seem justified by the end of the movie.

Lecter is intelligent, polite and eloquent. Although he's a monster capable of eating people, he has a twisted sense of honor. It's clear that he likes Starling and he rewards some of her honest revelations with help and insight into how she might track down serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine).

It's curious that the movie is often placed in the horror genre. I watched David Fincher's version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo recently, and compared the two films. Both are essentially investigations into murders as the protagonists attempt to track a serial killer. Each includes a colorful character, although one is a hero and the other a villain. If Lisbeth Salander and Hannibal Lecter were more conventional characters, the two movies would lose a lot of their power. I think it's wrong to label The Silence of the Lambs as a horror movie, but I understand why that's often the case.

The movie works because we love how monstrous Lecter is and how human Starling can be. Foster's performance made Starling seem incredibly vulnerable. She's a young cadet finding her way in the FBI and this is her first big break. Then we see that she has to contend with Lecter, who is ruthlessly insightful and able to read her easily. Much of the story is seen from Starling's point of view and it's easy to identify with her fears as she tries to catch the killer.

The final showdown is extremely effective. You can sense the evil in Buffalo Bill and Starling's fear is audible and visible. The song playing during this sequence (Hip Priest, by The Fall) holds special meaning for me as it was played at the first concert I ever attended.

Scott Glenn can be very likable and I enjoyed his performance as Crawford. The movie drew considerable praise from the FBI for it's realism and it was easy to imagine Glenn as a member of the organization.

Hopkins is a versatile actor capable of playing just about any role. I would rank him among the top tier of my favorite actors. Maybe it's because of the characters he plays, but he strikes me as a very intelligent man.

The Silence of the Lambs is constructed simply, but the acting and the ominous mood elevate it to the level of greatness.

i remember watching this movie a long time ago and not being all that
impressed.but i watched it again last night,and i have a higher opinion
of it now than i did before.it's a good film,there's no question.it's
very moody and atmospheric,yet i still think Red Dragon is a superior
film.however,did like a lot about "Silence...".i thought Scott Glenn
was excellent as Jack Crawford,Starling's(Jodi Foster)superior.i am not
a Jodi Foster fan at all,however,she did well in this movie.i still
think, though,that Julianne Moore's portrayal of Clarice Starling in
Hannibal is superior.Hopkins is brilliant of course as Hannibal
Lector.but Ted Levine is equally brilliant in his portrayal of "Buffalo
Bill". yes,"Silence..."is a very good movie,but what puzzle me is how
people revere it as much as they do.it isn't that good.it will
definitely give you chills and draw you in.the story is very
compelling.having said all that,i give SOTL 3.5/5

I did not read the book so I don't know if the writer and director were trying to follow a flawed path with their script. However, the movie lost me early on with the premise that an FBI academy student would be chosen for an important assignment. Thus I found myself following the rest of the movie wondering what the heck Jodie Foster was doing in the center of all the action. Then there was the casting for Hannibal Lector. This character is going to have to convince the audience that he possesses not only a brilliant mind but also a powerful physique. Enter Anthony Hopkins and exit my interest in this character. By now I'm hoping that Scott Glenn will show up more often so I can have someone whose role I can accept.

There are several confusing sequences in the movie that detract further from its' quality. Maybe it's just me but I was totally confused by a scene with Jodie Foster and a group of local lawmen gathered when one of their own was found. Ms. Foster gave a little speech that made absolutely no sense to me. Then there was the incredible scene in which Hannibal Lector was transfered to Memphis or some such place at the request of some influencial politician (like that made any sense). We have a hotel with two divisions of policemen in it to guard Lector (and two cops actually doing the job). We are expected to accept that Lector is able to overpower the two cops, create a gruesome disguise and escape (presumeably by overpowering even more inept individuals). It was quite a series of events but I didn't buy the concept that it could have happened in the first place.

Well, enough of my complaints. My point is that I felt the movie lacked credibility. I think viewers were fascinated with the concept of Hannibal Lector and tended to accept whatever they were asked to. There was some interesting psychological dialogue and some scenes that were very well done. I just was never able to buy into it.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Deceptively bad
I've seen this film a number of times at different stages in life. Time has not been kind to it, nor my opinion. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Joseph K. Fitzpatrick

5.0 out of 5 stars You will not be SILENCED by this blu-ray
This blu-ray is well worth the extra money. Clear, sharp picture with amazing sound quality (especially on surround sound). Excellent special features, too. Read more

Published on Aug 26 2009 by Shawn Saumer

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Film
This award-winning 1991 film was adapted by Ted Tally from the 1988 novel by Thomas Harris. The film is a faithful adaptation of the novel, except for some minor changes... Read more

Published on Dec 9 2007 by Zadius Sky

5.0 out of 5 stars Try making a sound ....The Lambs Can Never be Silenced.
This is a great movie to watch in the dark. "The Silence of the Lambs." Jonathan Demme's tense thriller combines excellent actors and a wonderfully adapted screenplay to make,... Read more

Published on Oct 26 2007 by Jenny J.J.I.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hannibal Lecter the best bad guy in a movie
The first one of the trilogy of Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins at his very best. A fantastic movie, don't miss any of the three.

Published on July 17 2004 by Antonio Canas

5.0 out of 5 stars The very best
Roger Ebert said, "I t has been a good long while since I have felt the presence of Evil so manifestly demonstrated as in the first appearance of Anthony Hopkins in "The... Read more

Published on July 5 2004 by Jonathan Appleseed

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good - I liked it
With excellent directing, writing, and acting...Jodie Foster plays a great role and should have won the academy award.

Published on Jun 30 2004 by Nick Rocco

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most original horror films
Jonathan Demme's "Silence of the Lambs" starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster is by far one of the best directed horror films since the Hitchcock ones. Read more

Published on Jun 18 2004 by Trial Critic

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
The first film to sweep all the major Oscars since One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1975; Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs is more than just the most unnerving... Read more

Published on Jun 14 2004 by N. Durham

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and disturbing
A tense, thrilling game of cat and mouse between FBI trainee Clarice Starling and the erudite but deranged cannibal Hannibal Lecter is the driving force behind this superb film... Read more

Published on Jun 11 2004

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